By Anna Li
Anna Li (FPC STM in Guogou and Dongshih) for VGM 8/22/08
I am so thankful to God that I was blessed with an opportunity to return to Taiwan this summer with a team from my church to work, once again, with VGM in spreading the gospel to children and their families who desperately need the message of God's love. This was my second time going to Taiwan on a mission trip with VGM, and I was so excited. I remember (with some shame) that up until the night before departing for Taiwan, I still had not really set aside time to pray to God and ask Him to prepare me for this mission trip. That evening, I shared my worries with my sister, and she simply reassured me to just pray, even if it was the very last night. I probably didn't spend that much time praying that night, and I definitely did not spend enough time beforehand asking God to prepare my heart for doing His work in Taiwan. However, after coming back from the mission trip, I really felt so blessed and grateful to God because even though I didn't really think I had asked God enough to prepare me for the trip, He went above and beyond any of my expectations and worries and really used me and taught me a lot of things during those two weeks with VGM.
Reflecting on the trip, I realized that sometimes, I couldn't see past all the fun times with the coworkers and kids to what God really taught me in Taiwan. But I know that the main purpose of the trip was not to just bond closely with our Taiwanese coworkers-although that was certainly a big part of the trip and a very big blessing. Especially during the first week in Guogou, I felt that our coworkers were so loving and willing to get to know us. Even now, I continue to keep in touch with them. It was a little harder for me during the second week to warm up to the Taiwanese coworkers-mainly because right after the first week of camp ended on Saturday, we had no time to reflect on all our experiences in Guogou. After a quick 15-minute drive to Dongshi, we immediately found ourselves in the midst of a bunch of brand-new coworkers to bond with, and for me, especially during the first two days, I didn't really want to get to know everyone in Dongshi, probably for fear of forgetting everything in Guogou. However, God was very gracious and once again, I found myself growing close to the coworkers in Dongshi after only several days. Although I have now been to three VGM camps, it never ceases to amaze me how God's grace can work so quickly in the hearts of both the Taiwanese and STM coworkers to grow so close in fellowship over the course of one very short week.
One of the newer experiences for me on this trip was leading Sing & Play, one of the only times when STM got to play a big part in the camps (since it was talent/craft instead of bilingual). Well, I helped teach the songs last year, but this year, I actually led all of the children and the coworkers in dancing to songs from our church VBS program earlier in the summer. I don't get stage fright, but I guess having everyone stare at me holding a microphone and stuttering in my not-so-great Chinese was a little nerve-wracking-at least on the first day. But as always, God was good and helped me to be more comfortable in teaching the kids how to dance along!
Morning devotionals with our Taiwanese coworkers were one thing that really helped me to grow in my faith. Every morning at 7:30 a.m., somehow, I would not be tired or hungry while reading and meditating on certain passages given to us. I really liked having the opportunity to discuss these passages with fellow STM members who, although I knew well, I did not always get to discuss Bible passages with, so that was nice. Also, the passages were all from John, who can be really confusing at times, so it was really good to be challenged in reading God's word and remembering that we are mere humans and cannot even begin to fathom God's wisdom.
The little things made a big difference, too. I mean, I don't think many people would have thought the weather was important, but it was, especially when we were without air conditioning at school. The first week, God really blessed us with the most amazing weather we could ask for. Every day at school, it would be very cloudy and windy, but it would not rain (which didn't impede our outdoor activities). But every night, after everyone was safely in the gospel center, it would pour rain so that the next day, the weather would once again be nice and cool. The second week, we were not as lucky. However, we did get to experience a typhoon on the last two days of camp. It was actually really exciting walking in a huge group, all wearing ponchos, to school on the last day of camp. That day, not very many kids showed up, but it was encouraging to see at least several from each class wanting to come see us despite the heavy rain.
It was funny-this year, I felt like I bonded better with the coworkers the first week and with the kids better the second week. The first week, our kids were not very talkative in class and at first, no one wanted us to visit their houses after school! But God was good and on the third and fourth days after camp, we visited several families each day. Also, I didn't really think that our students liked us that much, since they didn't show it, but on the last day, a lot of the girls in my class were crying, and I was touched. The second week, we were in Dongshi, which is where our team from FPC went last year. The first day we were in Dongshi, I met several of my students from last year, and they all immediately recognized me-in fact, they had already seen other members of our team and had been looking for me! I felt so moved by their love for me, and throughout the week, they were always asking me to hang out with them. It was even harder to leave them this year, but I really hope to be able to see them again in the future.
Also, during the second week, we had a particularly naughty kid in our camp: Michael. On the first day, all of the Taiwanese coworkers were running after him, trying to make him behave. However, it was through one particular coworker, Song (who wasn't even his class teacher), that God really showed His power in changing hearts. Within only a few days, God had miraculously used Song (and others) to show Michael God's amazing love for him, and before we left, Michael's heart had already been changed, and he had accepted Jesus as his savior. Only God could have changed the heart of a seemingly mischievous child so quickly and so completely, and it truly blew me away.
One big thing that God has taught me through both summers in Taiwan is the power and importance of prayer. Every time I'm at VGM, the Taiwanese coworkers are always emphasizing that we need to pray about every aspect of the camp-the kids, safe travel to and from school, safety and health of the coworkers, openness of the kids' hearts, allowing the programs to run smoothly, and much more. Coming back this year, I have really begun to pray a lot more-about every aspect of my life, and it's because we prayed so much and so often in Taiwan, and I am really glad God has changed me in that aspect.
Although I have only been back for one month, I have already been swept up by so many school and church activities. In fact, writing this report reminded me of a lot of the things God taught me in Taiwan, which, sadly, had already begun to fade in my mind. However, I know that God definitely used this mission trip to bring me closer to Him and to trust Him a lot more. I really miss everyone and everything about Taiwan, but I know that more importantly, I need to continue praying for each of the children and coworkers, that they may really trust God and grow closer to Him. God continues to call us to be missionaries for Him wherever we are, and I sincerely hope to be able to return to Taiwan next year to continue to serve Him!
